The driver of a pickup truck responsible for a high speed traffic accident Monday night on Cookeville Highway near the Smithville city limits is facing charges pending the outcome of the crash investigation. But according to Sheriff Patrick Ray, there was no law enforcement pursuit of the truck driver at the time of the wreck.
No arrest has yet been made but the case is under investigation by Trooper Tommy Cooper of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. The name of the driver has not been released.
Trooper Cooper told WJLE that the driver of a 1998 Dodge 1500 pickup was north on Highway 56 when he struck a southbound 2012 Chevy Sonic, driven by 44 year old Danny Niles of Smithville. After hitting the car, the truck kept going until it went off the right side of the highway, struck a Smithville Electric System utility pole, and then plunged down an embankment. After the wreck the driver abandoned the truck and fled the scene.
Niles, who spoke with WJLE about the accident Wednesday, said he was traveling south on Cookeville Highway when he saw the truck heading toward him in his (Niles’) lane at a very high rate of speed, possibly as fast as 100 miles per hour. Niles said he swerved to the left trying to avoid a possible head-on collision. “He was in my lane and I made a left turn but he clipped my back rear passenger side. My car spun around and ended up in a ditch. He (truck driver) kept going. He went into the grass, hit a utility pole, and wrecked. He then got out and ran off,” Niles told WJLE.
Niles, who suffered cuts and bruises to his face, said he went to see a doctor Tuesday morning and discovered that he also had a broken finger and a mild whiplash.
While the truck driver was traveling at a high rate of speed he was apparently not being pursued by law enforcement at the time. Sheriff Ray told WJLE that a deputy was stopped in the southbound lane at the red light on Highway 56 and East Main Street near the Post Office when he saw the truck run the stop light speeding north. No officer was in pursuit. By the time the deputy turned around, he lost sight of the truck and did not engage in a pursuit. The wreck happened moments later.

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A gunman held up Liberty State Bank in Liberty this morning (Wednesday) taking an undisclosed amount of cash.
Sheriff Patrick Ray told WJLE that someone, believed to be a man, ran into the bank shortly after 8:00 a.m., approached a female teller, and displayed a weapon. The teller complied with the robber’s demands and the gunman fled the bank with cash. No one was injured.
Another person in the bank at the time witnessed the crime and called authorities at 8:07 a.m.. The robber appeared to be a white male, five feet, six inches to five feet, ten inches in height, wearing a black jacket with a hoodie on it.
A deputy was on the scene within five minutes of the initial call. Alexandria Police Chief Chris Russell responded to assist.
The case remains under investigation by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI.
Investigators initially thought the robber to be wearing a red jacket based on a photo taken from the bank’s camera system. But that photo proved to be of poor quality. Another better quality photo showed the gunman to actually be wearing a black jacket and black hood.

Due to weather, The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency (UCHRA) has re-scheduled the next commodities distribution for DeKalb County, for Friday, February 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the UCHRA Office 726 S Congress Blvd, Smithville, TN.
The distribution had been set for Thursday, February 11.
Everyone must present a valid UCHRA commodity card in order to receive commodities. To sign up or reprint lost commodities cards contact your local UCHRA office.
The Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, religion, or disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services or activities.

Tennessee began giving students a new high-stakes standardized “accountability” test called “TNReady” on Monday — but it turned out the test wasn’t ready due to a technology failure from a state vendor Measurement, Inc.
As a result, school districts including DeKalb County will now take the paper version for Part I and Part II of TN Ready. The school systems were made aware of the problem in an email Monday from Candice McQueen, the Tennessee Commissioner of Education.
TNReady was designed to replace the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program and be administered to students entirely online.
“We were ready. Our technology department had us ready to go. Our kids had been practicing. Our teachers had been working hard preparing our students to do this test on the computers. We have done practice tests and things of that nature and we were ready to go but it (problem) was on the vendor side. The state side is where the failure occurred. It has nothing to do with our technology here. We had the bandwidth and the schedule worked out and were prepared for our students to take this test online,” Director of Schools Patrick Cripps told WJLE Tuesday.
School districts had a four week window to conduct the testing. DeKalb Middle School was set to start this week followed next week by DeKalb West, Northside Elementary School, and DCHS. The testing window for the first part of the exam started Monday across the state and was to run through March 4. The second part of the exam is to be administered in April and May. Because of the delay, the state is expected to extend the testing window.
Although four weeks were set aside for the testing, students would only spend a few days at a time actually taking the tests. “It really comes down to how many devices you can serve your students with. In the past students had a week or so to do the TCAP testing once they started. Now there is a window because counties cannot test all students at one time because of the limited devices they have,” said Director Cripps.
Students are to be tested in Math, English/Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science. Students in the lower grades in elementary school take the Stanford Achievement Test SAT-10 tests in April and May. Those tests are done by paper and pencil.
The state department will share the revised testing window with school systems by Thursday.

A sex offender is back in trouble with the law.
50 year old David Royden Drennan of Sparta Highway, Smithville is charged with violation of the sex offender law.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Monday, February 8 Drennan allowed minor children to live with him at his home in violation of his sex offender registration.
Meanwhile, 53 year old Kimberly Diane Lombardi of Sparta is charged with driving under the influence. Her bond is $1,500 and she will be in court February 25.
Sheriff Ray said that on Monday, February 1 a deputy responded to Short Mountain Highway to a possible drunk driver. Before the officer’s arrival, central dispatch advised him that the car had run off the road and wrecked. When he got there, the deputy spoke with the driver, Lombardi. Her speech was slurred and she was very unsteady on her feet. Lombardi submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Lombardi told the officer that she had taken a xanax earlier in the morning. The deputy noticed a blue powdery residue in her nose. She refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.
22 year old Kevin Clark Thomas of Baxter is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence and driving on a revoked license. His bond totals $3,500 and he will be in court February 25.
Sheriff Ray said that on Thursday, February 4 a deputy was patrolling Highway 70 east when he spotted a 1994 Saturn that appeared to have wrecked. He stopped and spoke with the driver, Thomas. He was unsteady on his feet and he had a strong odor of alcohol on his person. Thomas told the officer that he had consumed about seven beers. Thomas performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. A computer check revealed Thomas’ driver license were revoked on August 31, 2012 for driving under the influence in Putnam County. He was placed under arrest.
27 year old Brandan Timothy Greene of Buffalo Valley is charged with a second offense of driving under the influence. He was further issued a citation for driving on a suspended license and failure to maintain his lane of travel. His bond is $3,000 and he will make a court appearance February 18.
Sheriff Ray said that on Friday, February 5 a deputy initiated a traffic stop of a red Chevrolet Suburban for failing to maintain its lane of travel on Highway 70 east near Smith Road. As he approached the vehicle, the officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside. The driver, Greene told the officer that he had been drinking and that he was drunk. Greene refused to submit to field sobriety tasks saying he was guilty and wanted the deputy to carry him on to jail. He did submit to a blood test and was placed under arrest. Greene has a prior DUI on May 3, 2012 in Smith County. His driver license were suspended for failure to pay restitution in 2015.
44 year old Christopher Brian Pack of Midway Road, Smithville is charged with contraband in a penal institution. His bond is $5,000 and he will make a court appearance February 18.
Sheriff Ray said that on Sunday, February 7 Pack was arrested on a community corrections violation warrant and brought to the jail. Later when a correctional officer searched Pack’s laundry bag, he found wrapped in a pair of socks two Klonopin and two Suboxone pills. Pack told the officers he needed the drugs to help him get over a cold. Before hiding the pills in the socks, Pack said he concealed them in his mouth.

Another Blast of winter weather moved into DeKalb County Monday evening with snow and slippery roads. State highways appear to be in good condition Tuesday morning in the Smithville area.
The winter weather has forced the cancellation of DeKalb County Schools and LBJ & C Smithville Head Start today (Tuesday).
Central dispatch reported only one accident Monday night in DeKalb County. A two vehicle crash occurred on Highway 56 north near the Smithville City Limits. Power lines in the area were down due to the accident. No one had to be transported to the hospital.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY CONTINUES TO BE IN EFFECT FOR THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU AND HIGHLAND RIM REGIONS INCLUDING DEKALB COUNTY UNTIL 6 AM CST WEDNESDAY MORNING.
SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO MIDDLE TENNESSEE TUESDAY MORNING AND THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS TODAY. ALTHOUGH THE POTENTIAL FOR SNOW SHOWERS WILL DISSIPATE FOR LOCATIONS WEST OF THE HIGHLAND RIM AND CUMBERLAND PLATEAU REGIONS BY THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENING HOURS TONIGHT…AT LEAST SCATTERED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE HIGHLAND RIM AND CUMBERLAND PLATEAU REGIONS THROUGH TONIGHT. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE…WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS AROUND 3 INCHES POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION…WET ROADS AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES WILL DEVELOP PATCHES OF ICE ALONG ROADWAYS…INCLUDING DANGEROUS BLACK ICE. THIS COMBINED WITH
ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL WILL CREATE HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS ACROSS BOTH OF THESE ADVISORY AREAS.
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES…AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

The struggles of a young boy dealing with autism is the focus of a new movie still in production, scenes of which are being filmed in Smithville and DeKalb County.
A crew was in town Sunday shooting scenes at F.Z. Webb and Sons Gifts. Filming has also been done at other locations here. Local homes, businesses, courthouse, landmarks, and people are expected to be seen in the movie. It is scheduled for release later this year.
“Missing Michael” is the story of 15 year old Michael Brooks, the middle sibling between 2 caring sisters, and the product of loving, hard-working parents. And though Michael looks no different from any other 15-year old boy, he is. He is autistic. He is loving and smart, and has an affinity for details, but sometimes he holds thoughts to himself, because by the time he’s ready to get them out, the moment has passed. But as you’ll also see, he’s not bothered a bit by late delivery of his opinion!
In any family, there are ups and downs, but you’ll see Michael’s resilience. With that advantage, he recovers after his father’s debilitating stroke and his mother’s accidental death. He misses his Mom, and his Dad is no longer up to their weekly chess game from the living room easy chair. But Michael comes out the other side bringing humor and wisdom into the lives of others. And he enjoys it! Laugh at his wisecracks! Hear him lay it out with a side-handed wit that leaves ‘em wondering…. until he’s safely out of reach!
Michael is also the inspiration for 19-year old sister Claire who is now struggling to keep herself and them together. And you’ll love how Michael adores his younger sister Emily, because after all, he is her big brother.
Claire finds that though her mother had proudly referred to her as an adult, she is now challenged to the core in her new role. With each pressing circumstance, she can only see a narrow road before her filled with pits and stumbling blocks with the complications of an embittered and imposing social worker, and a former boyfriend who feels neglected. But Claire discovers that her mother has left behind a journal – a connection that fills the expanse between them and imparts to her strength and courage, which she shares with her younger sister at a low moment for both of them.
Just before the final credits roll, you will truly be impressed as you experience first-hand the Brooks’ family working through their home-stretch struggles.
The Missing Michael story is captured with performances by Robert Biehn as Michael Brooks, Kelly Wyrick as his sister Claire, Poem Atkinson as his younger sister Emily, Helen Finnegan as Mom Marge Brooks, and David Parker as Officer Ken Taylor.
Chris Posen is the Writer, Director, and Producer of the film and Ken Robinson of Murfreesboro with ties to DeKalb County is Co-Producer and Director of Photography.
For more information about the film visit http://www.missingmichaelmovie.com.

The Smithville Municipal Airport is now selling jet fuel.
A new fuel farm was recently completed at the airport which provides jet fuel for the first time ever in Smithville. “Our old fuel farm has been removed at the airport. The AVGAS is completely gone. The old fuel farm. The new AVGAS and new jet fuel, fuel farm is up and running. Hopefully we’ll get more planes in here because of it. We’re the cheapest in this region,” said City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson during last week’s meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
The new fuel farm was funded mostly by aeronautics grants from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Tracy Foutch, Owner of Foutch Industries, LLC was Smithville’s first jet fuel customer. He told WJLE Tuesday that having jet fuel available locally will mean a lot to businesses and industries and possibly contribute to future growth. “What the fuel does for our company personally is it gives us a quicker response to our customers. It also lets other businesses that are here and future business prospects come in and fuel their aircraft while they are looking around the area. It will also help the local economy because if people can come in here with their planes and fuel then they’re more likely to do that rather than go to other airports and spend that money with them,” said Foutch.
More than a year ago, the Smithville Aldermen approved the bid for the fuel farm project. The bid was awarded to the TPM Group upon the recommendation of the city’s airport engineer Craig Clairmont. TPM’s base bid amount was $544,920. The original grant amount for the fuel farm was for $330,000 but the state later approved an amendment to the grant for an additional $220,000 to cover the costs. The city, which had already paid a five percent local match of $16,500 for the grant, had to come up with an additional $12,250 for the local match of the grant amendment.
Meanwhile the city may soon hire a new airport manager. Three applications/resumes have been submitted from persons interested in the job. The city’s airport committee is expected to review the applications/resumes and make a recommendation to the mayor and board of aldermen. The deadline for submitting applications was last Friday, February 5.

The DeKalb County Health Department reminds everyone the best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated. Peak flu season is here, but you still have time to get vaccinated. Flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and older, and is especially important for infants, young children, pregnant women, adults over age 50 and for those with chronic medical conditions.
Starting February 8, 2016, free flu vaccinations will be available at the Dekalb County Health Department for both adults and children.
“We want to vaccinate as many people in DeKalb County as possible to protect the health of our community,” said DeKalb County Health Director Michael Railling. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect your family, friends, coworkers and yourself from the flu, so we urge everyone who has not yet had a flu vaccine this season to get one as soon as possible.”
Delayed delivery of certain influenza vaccine products means supplies are still available at the DeKalb County Health Department. The clinic will provide flu vaccinations at no cost to patients until vaccine supplies are depleted. Patients may walk in to request a flu vaccine any time during regular clinic hours.
In addition to getting vaccinated, it’s important to practice good hand washing and other good health habits to prevent the spread of flu and other viruses that circulate at this time of year. People who are sick should take actions to stop spread of germs:
•Stay home if you are sick
•Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing
•Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer
•Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
For more information, call the DeKalb County Health Department at 615-597-7599 for an appointment.
Visit the Tennessee Department of Health online at http://tn.gov/health.
Connect with TDH on Facebook and Twitter @TNDeptofHealth